Addiction In Pregnancy Needs To Be Addressed; RWJBarnabas Takes Steps

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — It's something that is not often talked about: A young woman is pregnant. However, she is also unable to stop using alcohol, marijuana, tobacco or other drugs during her pregnancy, even though she knows how much they hurt her and her baby.

That's why this January RWJBarnabas Health launched a brand-new program to help doctors, midwives and nurses detect the signs of substance abuse in pregnant women.

It's called the Institute for Prevention and Recovery, and the program will be rolled out in all RWJBarnabas hospitals across the state.

Substance use and substance-use disorders are the leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths in New Jersey, according to the most recent New Jersey Maternal Mortality report.

Sadly, Perinatal Substance Use Disorder is not talked about often enough, said Suzanne Spernal, senior vice president of women’s services at RWJBarnabas Health. And most young women are reluctant to tell their doctor they are unable to stop drinking or using drugs.

“We know that stigma is a major factor that creates even greater barriers to care. A recent national study found that women are more likely to report stigma as a barrier to treatment compared with men," she said. "Healthcare providers want to support their patients, but often feel they are not equipped with the appropriate training and resources to address the complex needs of women and families impacted by addiction."

This new program will help doctors and nurses recognize the signs of a young woman who needs help, and get her the proper treatment and referrals she deserves.

All of this is done without judgement, said Spernal.

She pointed to the recent success story of a young mother at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick:

“The Maternal Health Recovery Specialist was able to build a trusting, stigma-free relationship with the patient, who used all of the services offered to her, including attending the Mom’s Healing Together All Recovery Meeting,” she said. “When the patient experienced a crisis in her last trimester, the team responded and ensured she was seen by familiar providers who knew her history. They advocated for her and adjustments were made to her treatment plan using a shared decision-making approach so she could be safely discharged to home."

"After five months of support from the program’s care team, she delivered a healthy baby boy this past December. This would not have been possible without the peer-based support offered to this Mom.”

Young mothers will also meet with older women who overcame drug/alcohol addiction, and can share their personal stories of addiction recovery.

“The first step to decreasing mortality is for providers to recognize substance-use disorder as a medical condition that can be treated in our very own hospitals and offices,” said Dr. Alexis LaPietra, Director of Addiction Medicine at RWJBarnabas Health and medical director of the new program. “This starts with education and empathy, which both directly address stigma.”

The Institute for Prevention and Recovery received nearly $1 million federal maternal health grants from the CDC to address substance-use issues during pregnancy and the postpartum period, with the goal of reducing related maternal deaths.

If you or someone you know is pregnant and has a substance-use disorder, please call their maternal health team at 848-303-0008. To reach the Center for Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders in Eatontown, call 862-781-3755 and in Livingston, call 973-322-9501.